The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) have officially closed its office in the city of Bukavu, South Kivu Province after two decades of service following a presidential order by Félix Tshisekedi for the mission to leave the country.
The Bukavu office has been the nerve center of its operations in South Kivu for more than 20 years for the MONUSCO.
In accordance with the order by Tshisekedi and the DRC government, the MONUSCO will complete its withdrawal from South Kivu on June 30 to mark mark the end of the first phase of its gradual disengagement from the country.
Despite the humiliating and ungrateful manner in which they have been forced out of the country, MONUSCO still managed to donate assets worth US$10 million to the DR Congo authorities and several other partners.
The Mission also handed over a newly constructed heliport and base in Rutemba, near Uvira, worth $1.5 million to the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC).
The donation ceremony took place in Kavumu, 32 km from Bukavu on Tuesday with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka present at the event.
The decision by Tshisekedi and his government to disengage the MONUSCO forces has been widely criticized by both the local and international community who have shown concern over the insecurities them move will likely expose the Congolese population to as the war rages on in the eastern region.
